In a live streamed announcement this morning, David Villa has been named 2016 MLS MVP. He scored 23 times during his second season with New York City FC, finishing second in the Golden Boot race. He also had four assists and led NYCFC to the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Although their playoff series against eventual East winners Toronto FC didn’t go as planned, it shouldn’t diminish the fantastic regular season from Villa.
David Villa Named 2016 MLS MVP
Villa won the award with 25.9% of the vote between players, media, and club management. He beat out Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips, assists leader Sacha Kljestan and, controversially, Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco, who only received 10.53% of the player vote and 16.25% overall.
Villa came to NYCFC for their inaugural season in 2015 after spending the previous 15 years of his career in Spain. He’s an accomplished Spanish international. He scored five goals during their 2010 World Cup title run and was also a key part of the Spain teams that won the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
He has since come to MLS and picked up right where he left off. His 41 goals in two seasons are more than any other player in the league.
Much of the conversation surrounding this award was about the snub of Sebastian Giovinco. The Toronto FC star had 17 goals and 15 generously awarded MLS assists. His ability to do just about everything in the attack certainly warrants a case for a second consecutive MVP award. However, Villa’s goal scoring record and better defensive contributions were enough to give him the honors.
While Giovinco probably should have won the award again, Villa is a solid second choice. He’s more versatile as a passer than Wright-Phillips and scores more than Kljestan. He doesn’t do both quite as well as Giovinco, though.
Regardless, he is the first New York based player to take home the award since Amado Guevara of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) won it back in 2004.
